Lady Microbiologist of the Week : Angelina Fanny Hesse

Lady Microbiologist: Episode I

Angelina Fanny Hesse (born on 22-June-1850) called Mother of microbiology, was the primary who propose the employment of agar as a culture media for growth, suggesting using agar as another to Gelatin (gelling agent) and isolating bacteria with the assistance of her husband Walter Hesse. Walter Hesse and Fanny Hesse joined Koch's laboratory in Germany. At that time Walter was studying airborne microorganisms and Fanny used to draw illustrations of what they observed under a microscope.

Once in 1881, Walter asked Fanny about the jellies and puddings that she made and how they managed to remain gelled in warm weather. Fannie told him that how she learned about the seaweed product and agar-agar from her Dutch neighbors from Indonesia, where the local custom is to use agar in their cooking. Agar was claimed to be a perfect gelling agent that stayed firm even within the incubator that would not be digested by any bacterial enzymes.

Agar up to 90°C temperature, transparent, indigestible by microorganisms, and sterilizable had been in a perfect state for growing and studying bacteria. It is the proper solution because it may be mixed with nutritious media, remains solid at high temperatures and transparent, indigestible by microorganisms, and sterilizable. It's become as important to bacteriology because of the Petri dish that was invented just some years later. Despite this, Fanny died in 1934.

Almost every microbiologist uses agar to solidify microbiological growth media. So, we wanted to acknowledge Angelina(Lina) Fanny Hesse because of the woman who contributed agar within the microbiology field and hope that her name becomes as pervasive because of the use of agar.

Conclusion

    Angelina Fanny Hesse is known as the mother of microbiology. She was following her initial suggestion for use of agar rather than gelatin. After her death (in 1934) people knew about her research contribution along with her husband. Because of their research, Koch eventually discovered etiologic agents of 21 diseases. Hesse's contribution never resulted in financial benefits for their family but it becomes very valuable in the field of microbiology.

Akanksha Joshi,

Microbiol,

RSML